Daily Bread, being a Calendar for Reading Through the Word of God in a Year

by Robert Murray McCheyne

"Thy Word is very pure; therefore thy servant
loveth it."

MY
DEAR FLOCK,—The approach of another year stirs up within me new desires
for your salvation, and for the growth of those of you who are saved. "God
is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." What
the coming year is to bring forth, who can tell? There is plainly a weight
lying on the spirits of all good men, and a looking for some strange work of
judgment coming upon this land. There is need now to ask that solemn question—"If
in the land of peace wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt
thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"

Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependence upon self or upon
creatures, but upon Jehovah our Righteousness. We must be driven more to our
Bibles, and to the mercy-seat, if we are to stand in the evil day. Then we
shall be able to say like David—, "The proud have had me greatly
in derision, yet have I not declined from thy law." "Princes have
persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word."

It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading, in
which as many as were made willing by God might agree, so that the whole Bible
might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding in the same
portion of the green pasture at the same time.

I am quite aware that such a plan is accompanied with many

Dangers.

1. Formality. We are such weak creatures that any regularly returning
duty is apt to degenerate into a lifeless form. The tendency of reading the
Word by a fixed rule may, in some minds, be to create this skeleton religion.
This is to be the peculiar sin of the last days—"Having the form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Guard against this. Let
the calendar perish rather than this rust eat up your souls.
2. Self-righteousness. Some, when they have devoted their set time to
reading the Word, and accomplished their prescribed portion, may be tempted
to look at themselves with self-complacency. Many, I am persuaded, are living
without any Divine work on their soul—unpardoned, and unsanctified,
and ready to perish — who spend their appointed times in secret and family
devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in the right hand.
3. Careless reading. Few tremble at the Word of God. Few, in reading
it, hear the voice of Jehovah, which is full of majesty. Some, by having so
large a portion, may be tempted to weary of it, as Israel did of the daily
manna, saying—, "Our soul loatheth this light bread;" and to
read it in a slight and careless manner. This would be fearfully provoking
to God. Take heed lest that word be true of you— "Ye said, also,
Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of
Hosts."
4. A yoke too heavy to bear. Some may engage in reading with alacrity
for a time, and afterwards feel it a burden grievous to be borne. They may
find conscience dragging them through the appointed task without any relish
of the heavenly food. If this be the case with any, throw aside the fetter
and feed at liberty in the sweet garden of God. My desire is not to cast a
snare upon you, but to be a helper of your joy.
If there be so many dangers, why propose such a scheme at all? To this I answer,
that the best things are accompanied with danger, as the fairest flowers are
often gathered in the clefts of some dangerous precipice. Let us weigh

The Advantages.

1. The whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the course
of a year. The Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms twice.
I fear many of you never read the whole Bible; and yet it is all equally
divine. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be perfect." If we pass over some parts of Scripture,
we shall be incomplete Christians.
2. Time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read. Often
believers are at a loss to determine towards which part of the mountains of
spices they should bend their steps. Here the question will be solved at once
in a very simple manner.
3. Parents will have a regular subject upon which to examine their children
and servants. It is much to be desired that family worship were made more
instructive than it generally is. The mere reading of the chapter is often
too like water split on the ground. Let it be read by every member of the family
beforehand, and then the meaning and application drawn out by simple question
and answer. The calendar will be helpful in this. Friends, also, when they
meet, will have a subject for profitable conversation in the portions read
that day. The meaning of difficult passages may be inquired from the more judicious
and ripe Christians, and the fragrance of simpler Scriptures spread abroad.
4. The pastor will know in what part of the pasture the flock are feeding. He
will thus be enabled to speak more suitably to them on the Sabbath; and both
pastor and elders will be able to drop a word of light and comfort in visiting
from house to house, which will be more readily responded to.
5. The sweet bond of Christian love and unity will be strengthened. We
shall be often led to think of those dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
here and elsewhere, who agree to join with us in reading these portions. We
shall oftener be led to agree on earth, touching something we shall ask of
God. We shall pray over the same promises, mourn over the same confessions,
praise God in the same songs, and be nourished by the same words of eternal
life.

1. The [first] column contains the day of the month. The next two columns
contain the chapter to be read in the family. The two last columns contain
the portions to be read in secret.
2. The head of the family should previously read over the chapter for family
worship, and mark two or three of the most prominent verses, upon which he
may dwell, asking a few simple questions.
3. Frequently the chapter named in the calendar for family reading might be
read more suitably in secret; in which case the head of the family should intimate
that it be read in private, and the chapter for secret reading may be used
in the family
4. The metrical version of the Psalms should be read or sung through at least
once in the year...If three verses be sung at each diet of family worship,
the whole Psalms will be sung through in the year.
5. Let the conversation at family meals often turn upon the chapter read and
the psalm sung. Thus every meal will be a Sacrament, being sanctified by the
Word and prayer.
6. Let our secret reading prevent the dawning of the day. Let God's voice be
the first we hear in the morning. Mark two or three of the richest verses,
and pray over every line and word of them. Let the marks be neatly done, never
so as to abuse a copy of the Bible.
7. In meeting believers on the street or elsewhere, when an easy opportunity
offers, recur to the chapters read that morning. This will be a blessed exchange
for those idle words which waste the soul and grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
In writing letters to those at a distance, make use of the provision that day
gathered.
8. Above all, use the Word as a lamp to your feet and a light to your path—your
guide in perplexity—your armor in temptation—your food in times
of faintness. Hear the constant cry of the great Intercessor,
"SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH."

St. Peter's, Dundee, 30th Dec. 1842.

Copied for WholesomeWords.org from The Works
of the Late Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne. 2 vols. New York: Robert
Carter, 1848-1850.